LIVE! @ GBS Detroit

by American Opera

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about

Recorded LIVE @ Groovebox Studios in Detroit, MI in one take.

credits

released 16 February 2012
LIVE! @ GBS Detroit

Sand & Seed
Sing Along
A Spot For My Sister
An Empty Cup
Songs I Used To Sing
Spoons & Knives (Bonus Track)
Bright Lights & Amplifiers (Bonus Track)

All music and lyrics written and performed by John Bee

John Bee ~ vocals/guitar

THANKS God, friends & family, Mom and Dad, Cheryl Mapes, Matt Tunney, Garret Shetler, Aaron DeVries, Drew Conner, Aaron McCall, Joe Matteson, and you.

SPECIAL THANKS Aaron Schroeder, Alex Seder, Glenn Weigold, Megan O'Brien, Elizabeth Rapp, Steve Ayre, Graham, Amanda Kelly, Scott Szczepanik, Josh Colyer, Mike Cruz, Erin McConnell, Thomas Estes, Kayla, Brian Zielinski, Kevin Klein, Jesse McDonald, LaFaveArt, Ryan Gould, Mark Stewart, Jacob Julian, Angela, Tessa, Justin Cheuvront, James, Aaron Winchester, Chance Monnette, Matt Dancza, Jason Dark, cousin Dave, Nicole Nagy, Jeff Haenke, Brooke Maylee, Brian Lechel, Angella Szynkowski, Krystle Lilliestierna, Michael White, Brittny Flues, Rachael Palmer, Molly Trahan, Hannah Hartwell, Shawn Neal, and Jeff "Fuzzy" Wenzel. This recording wouldn't be possible without these people.

SUPPORT Giant Robot Productions, Skye Photography & Design, Joe Photography, Omni Guitar Works, PupFresh, Under The Gun Review, AbsolutePunk, Alternative Press, Vince Dynamic, Squid The Whale, The Company We Keep, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, Mike Mains & The Branches, Wolves & Machines, sosaveme, The Early Morning, Jacob's Ladder, Sent By Ravens, Shapes & Colors, Fusion Shows, GBS Detroit, WQAC Alma, WDBM East Lansing, AM 1610 Hamtramck,

This is for Michael.

Copyright 2012. American Opera. All right reserved.
Unauthorized reproduction is a violation of applicable laws, but please share this with your friends.
Recorded at Groovebox Studios in Detroit, MI
Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Jeff "Fuzzy" Wenzel and Mike Hostettler
Video production by Shawn Neal and Doug Akers
Additional production by Brandon Cooskey

www.AmericanOpera.net / www.facebook.com/AmericanOpera / www.twitter.com/AmericanOpera

tags

tags: folk a spot for my sister american opera an empty cup indie rock sand & seed sing along songs i used to sing Saginaw

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all rights reserved

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Track Name: Sand & Seed
Well, this house I made out of bricks is acting more like sand,
And when I trick to pick it up it starts slipping through my hands…
Yeah, the door has been kicked in, window's broken, walls are caving in,
The foundation is sinking and I've been thinking there's no saving it…

I can't let it go, this is my home…

Maybe the songs I sing are so I remember what life brings,
Life sings its songs to me so I am not afraid, yeah…

Well, I've been working in these fields for as long as I can recall,
But every time I see the growth, the spring, it turns to fall...
Well, God made this ground fickle, and in turn, hard to control,
And now I've found myself in a pickle thanks to my sins and empty soul...

This dirt is dry as bone and it hasn't rained for days,
And all of the clouds up in the sky are blocking all of the sun's rays…
Buried deep beneath the ground amidst the worms and dirt,
Sits a lonely seed I found wondering what its worth...

I'll make this seed grow all on my own…

Maybe the songs I sing are so I remember what life brings,
Life sings its songs to me so I am not afraid…

Well, I bet if these walls could talk they wouldn't say anything at all…
And I bet if these roots could walk they wouldn't,
They would just stumble and they would fall…

I can't let it go, this is my home…
I'll make this seed grow all on my own…

Maybe the songs I sing are so I remember what life brings,
Life sings its songs to me so I am not afraid...
Track Name: Sing Along
I won't last too long,
I'm probably already gone...
I don't know what to say,
So take your love away from me...
She said, "Give your heart to God..."
What if it's already gone?
I won't know what to say,
So take your love away from me...

To all the birds in this nest, just sit here and rest,
Please rest your wings, and we'll see what tomorrow brings...
I'll fly from tree to tree to tree and gather all we need,
Apparently it's all on me and I have a lot of mouths to feed...
Just wait until I return baby birds,
I will make you eat my words...
Lord knows that I can't stomach them,
So get your fill and stay still 'cause I've got a lot to say…

"If there's a God then he don't show his face 'round here anymore," I heard a man say…
I heard a man say, "You've got some evil in you, you've got some devil in you..."
Oh no, well he don't drink with his friends, but yeah he's drinking alone...
When he's not out on the road he's just a bag of bones...

When I was a boy I told myself that I would buy my dad a boat,
I'd make him proud with my head up in the clouds...
Now there's not enough water in this glass for that dream to float,
The glass fell down, I watch it pour out on the ground…
You're waking up the demons,
I am not alive, I am just a satellite...
They dance in circles around you,
Surround around the ghosts that found me,
They've got something to say...

"You were never meant to make it,
Yeah, you don't have what it takes...
It's time to live life like a man,
It's time to learn from your mistakes...
If you don't find yourself a woman,
If you don't find yourself a job,
You're going to live alone forever,
It's time to give your life to God..."

Well, I don't want to start a family,
No, I don't want to fall in love...
I just want to sing these songs,
And I want you to sing along,
So if I never find a woman,
If I never find a job...
I'll still have this old guitar,
And I'll still have these stupid songs,
So sing along...
Track Name: A Spot For My Sister
You saved a spot for my sister to stand up in our wedding,
My sister won't be there because there won't be a wedding...
There are things that I've been dreading and often times forgetting,
I need to let you know before it gets too soon...
I need to let you go before the first of June...

You asked about groomsmen and if I had room for another,
You said it'd mean a lot to you if one could be your brother...
How can I face your mother and continue to keep this under cover?
I need to let you know before it gets too soon...
I need to let you go before your life is ruined...

All this time you were right,
All this time was a lie...

So we go to classes so the priest can test the waters,
He asks lots of questions, like will we have sons and daughters?
How long will he keep us guessing for a not-so-wanted blessing?
If he was half a man, he'd do the right thing...
Maybe if he's half a man, she'll give back the ring...

All this time you were right,
All this time was a lie…
I'm sorry…
All this time you were right,
All this time was a lie...

I hope you hear this song so that I don't keep you waiting...
How could I take so long? How could I be so degrading?
Are you something I'll be missing? Am I failing as a Christian?
Now that I have let you know, I pray you'll understand...
Now that I have let you know, you'll find the right man...
Now that I have let you know, could I take back the ring?
Now that I have let you go, I swear I hear your family sing...

"All this time we were right..."
All this time you were right...
"All this time was a lie..."
All this time was a lie…

I hope you hear this song so that I don't keep you waiting...
Track Name: An Empty Cup
What happened to those babies that you took inside your home?
And what did you say to Jesus that made him step down from his throne?
I am aware of your cold stare, I saw eyes glowing in the night…
I tried to move but I was paralyzed...

Have I not tried hard enough?
I've broken hearts,
I've spilled my guts...
Drinking out of an empty cup for you…

Oh my dear friends I give thanks yet I am ungrateful,
Yeah, I have faith but then again I am unfaithful…
Because you will not find the good if you ain't looking for evil, too…
And you can't believe in God without believing in you know who…
Oh you know who…
Oh you know who...

Have I not tried hard enough?
I've broken hearts,
I've spilled my guts...
Drinking out of an empty cup for you…

Oh, I felt you on the way home,
Were you looking for me?
Is there something you need?

Have I not tried hard enough?
I've broken hearts,
I've spilled my guts...
Drinking out of an empty cup for you…

I won't be the only one waiting around for your son,
Drinking out of an empty cup for you...

I know...
Track Name: Songs I Used To Sing
You put tape over my mouth,
And rope around my hands...
You put shackles on my feet,
Now I can hardly stand to hear those words I wrote,
'Bout how we built a boat and set it out to sail...
Then you said we failed, but we didn't fail...
You failed me...

And I pray that you'll always sing along,
And I pray that you will always sing…

You knocked my ship off course,
And tied it up to land...
This bow that used to float is buried in sand...
To all those kids at sea who were listening,
Singing those words I wrote...
When I lost all hope you healed me...
When I couldn't heal, you healed me...

And I pray that you'll always sing along,
And I pray that you will always sing…

Oh how I long to sing those songs I used to sing a million times before,
Well I don't sing them anymore…
But I still sing...

I still sing...
Track Name: Spoons & Knives (Bonus Track)
The demon on my shoulder tells me that it's almost over,
Lost and cannot be found…
The angel whispers in my ear to repent and be sincere,
And take my place in the clouds…

But I know you know I won't tell the truth…
So don't you bother waiting,
There's no way you can save me,
I'm telling you that it's no use…

Dear brother, is it wise to ignore the whispers from the angels?
There's still time to break through…
So clean the spoons and knives before it's time to set the table,
Company's coming soon…

But I know you won't change anytime soon…
So I'll pull up a chair and I will watch you as you stare
At the sun turning into the moon…

Just when I thought that the sun was here to stay,
The rain washed it away…
'Cause even stars they fade away,
Long live yesterday…

Just when I thought that the sun was here to stay,
God took it away...
'Cause even stars they fade away,
Long live yesterday…

Love live yesterday...
Track Name: Bright Lights & Amplifiers (Bonus Track)
I walk a long and lonesome road,
The only things that I have ever known,
Is this old beat-up six string and a blue Ford van,
And my rock band…

I'm sorry Mama, I had to leave…
I hope one day you and Dad can forgive me,
For dropping out of school so I could go and play the fool with my best friends…

This life is my own…
I throw a dart onto a map and then I make it my home…
This life is my own…
And I will dance and sing atop this globe…

Father forgive me for what I've done…
I promise you one day light will shine from this son…
I know it makes you proud when this whole damn crowd sings my songs…

Mom and Dad, you gave me these hands,
And taught me how to be a man…
I pray when I have children I do right by you and fill them with God's grace…

This life is my own…
I throw a dart onto a map and then I make it my home…
This life is my own…
And I will dance and sing atop this globe…

I'm not coming home…
Bright lights and amplifiers are all I've ever known…

And I will dance and sing atop this globe...